International display

By Staff Reports

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It's as if a little Olympic fever has come to Winthrop University. Both sides of Alumni Drive on campus are sporting flags from around the world.

In truth, the international display is not of Olympic proportions. The flags flown represent only the countries of the international students who attend Winthrop.

Nonetheless, the number of flags -- 56 in all -- is impressive. That is quite a diverse representation from around the globe.

And more will be hung during the upcoming academic year.

The flags also show up on a Web site dedicated to the "Flags on Alumni Drive" designed by Chris Zhou for the school's international center. Zhou, a student from China, said that seeing the flags of their home countries will make international students "feel they're part of the university."

Winthrop takes pride in the diversity of the campus and in the fact that the university attracts students from around the world. That pride is well justified.

The presence of a large number of students from other nations is a considerable asset for both Winthrop and the community as a whole. It enables American students to learn firsthand about other cultures and to have access to viewpoints of students with a different perspective.

The flags also are a potent reminder that the United States is, indeed, a nation of immigrants that has thrived on the diverse cultural influences that have added to the richness of an ever-evolving American culture.